in a general sense, signifies the defense or preservation of any thing; the act of observing what passes, in order to prevent surprise; or the care, precaution, and attention we make use of to prevent anything from happening contrary to our intentions or inclinations.

fencing, implies a proper posture to defend the body from the sword of the antagonist.

the military art, is a duty performed by a body of men, to secure an army or place from being surprised by an enemy. In garrison the guards are relieved every day: hence it comes that every soldier mounts guard once every three or four days in time of peace, and much oftener in time of war. See Honours.

Advanced Guard, is a party of either horse or foot, that marches before a more considerable body, to give notice of any approaching danger. These guards are either made stronger or weaker, according to situation, the danger to be apprehended from the enemy, or the nature of the country.

Van Guard. See Advanced Guard.

Artillery Guard, is a detachment from the army to secure the artillery when in the field. Their corps de garde is in the front of the artillery park, and their sentries dispersed round the same. This is generally a 48-hours guard; and, upon a march, this guard marches in the front and rear of the artillery, and must be sure to leave nothing behind: if a gun or waggon breaks down, the officer that commands the guard is to leave a sufficient number of men to assist the gunners, and matrosses in getting it up again.

Artillery Quarter-Guard, is frequently a non-commissioned officer's guard from the royal regiment of artillery, whose corps de garde is always in the front of their encampment.

Artillery Rear-Guard, consists in a corporal and six men, posted in the rear of the park.

Corps de Garde, are soldiers entrusted with the guard of a post, under the command of one or more officers. This word also signifies the place where the guard mounts.

Grand Guard; three or four squadrons of horse, commanded by a field-officer, posted at about a mile or a mile and a half from the camp, on the right and left wings, towards the enemy, for the better security of the camp.

Forage Guard, a detachment sent out to secure the foragers, and who are posted at all places, where either the enemy's party may come to disturb the foragers, or where they may be spread too near the enemy, so as to be in danger of being taken. This guard consists both of horse and foot, and must remain on their posts till the foragers are all come off the ground.

Main Guard, is that from which all other guards are detached. Those who are for mounting guard assemble at their respective captain's quarters, and march from thence to the parade in good order; where, after the whole guard is drawn up, the small guards are detached to their respective posts: then the subalterns throw lots for their guards, who are all under the command of the captain of the main guard. This guard mounts in garrison at different hours, according as the governor pleases.

Piquet Guard, a good number of horse and foot, always in readiness in case of an alarm: the horses are generally saddled all the time, and the riders booted.

The foot draw up at the head of the battalion, frequently at the beating of the tat-too; but afterwards return to their tents, where they hold themselves in readiness to march upon any sudden alarm. This guard is to make resistance in case of an attack, until the army can get ready.

Baggage Guard, is always an officer's guard, who has the care of the baggage on a march. The waggons should be numbered by companies, and follow one another regularly: vigilance and attention in the passage of hollow ways, woods, and thickets, must be strictly observed by this guard.

Quarter Guard, is a small guard commanded by a subaltern officer, posted in the front of each battalion, at 222 feet before the front of the regiment.

Rear Guard, that party of the army which brings up the rear on a march, generally composed of all the old grand guards of the camp. The rear-guard of a party is frequently eight or ten horse, about 500 paces behind the party. Hence the advance-guard going out upon a party, form the rear-guard in their retreat.

Rear-Guard, is also a corporal's guard placed in the rear of a regiment, to keep good order in that part of the camp.

Standard Guard, a small guard under a corporal, out of each regiment of horse, who mount on foot in the front of each regiment, at the distance of 20 feet from the streets, opposite the main street.

Trench Guard, only mounts in the time of a siege, and sometimes consists of three, four, or six battalions, according to the importance of the siege. This guard must oppose the besieged when they sally out, protect the workmen, &c.

Provost Guard, is always an officer's guard that attends the provost in his rounds, either to prevent desertion, marauding, rioting, &c. See Provost.

Ordinary Guards, such as are fixed during the campaign, and relieved daily.

Extraordinary Guards, or detachments, which are only commanded on particular occasions, either for the further security of the camp, to cover the foragers, or for convoys, escorts, or expeditions.

Guards, also imply the troops kept to guard the king's person, and consist both of horse and foot.

Horse Guards, in England, are gentlemen chosen for their bravery, to be entrusted with the guard of the king's person; and were divided into four troops, called the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th troop of horse-guards. The first troop was raised in the year 1660, and the command command given to Lord Gerard; the second in 1661, and the command given to Sir Philip Howard; the third in 1693, and the command given to Earl Feversham; the fourth in 1702, and the command given to Earl Newburgh. Each troop had one colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, one cornet and major, one guidon and major, four exempts and captains, four brigadiers and lieutenants, one adjutant, four sub-brigadiers and cornets, and 60 private men. But the four troops are now turned into two regiments of life-guards.

Horse-Grenadier Guards, are divided into two troops called the 1st and 2nd troops of horse-grenadier guards. The first troop was raised in 1693, and the command given to Lieutenant-general Cholmondeley; the second in 1702, and the command given to Lord Forbes. Each troop has one colonel, lieutenant-colonel, one guidon or major, three exempts and captains, three lieutenants, one adjutant, three cornets, and 60 private men.

Yeomen of the Guard, first raised by Henry VII. in the year 1485. They are a kind of pompous foot-guards to the king's person; and are generally called by a nickname the Beef-Eaters. They were anciently 250 men of the first rank under gentry; and of larger stature than ordinary, each being required to be six feet high. At present there are but 100 in constant duty, and 70 more not on duty; and when any one of the 100 dies, his place is supplied out of the 70. They go dressed after the manner of King Henry VIII.'s time. Their first commander or captain was the earl of Oxford, and their pay is 25. 6d. per day.

Foot Guards, are regiments of foot appointed for the guard of his majesty and his palace. There are three regiments of them, called the 1st, 2d, and 3d, regiments of foot-guards. They were raised in the year 1660; and the command of the first given to Colonel Russel, that of the second to General Monk, and the third to the earl of Linlithgow. The first regiment is at present commanded by one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, three majors, 23 captains, one captain-lieutenant, 31 lieutenants, and 24 ensigns; and contains three battalions. The second regiment has one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, 14 captains, one captain-lieutenant, 18 lieutenants, 16 ensigns, and contains only two battalions. The third regiment is the same as the second.

The French Guards are divided into those within, and those without the palace.—The first are the gardes du corps, or body guards; which consist of four companies, the first of which companies was anciently Scots. See Scots Guards, infra.

The guards without are the Gens d'Armes, light horse, musqueteers, and two other regiments, the one of which is French and the other Swiss.

New arrangements, however, have taken place in this department as well as others since the late revolution.

Scots Guards, a celebrated band, which formed the first company of the ancient gardes du corps of France.

It happened from the ancient intercourse between France and Scotland, that the natives of the latter kingdom had often distinguished themselves in the service of the former. On this foundation the company of Scots guards, and the company of Scots gendarmes, were instituted.—Both of them owed their institution to Charles VII. of France, by whom the first standing army in Europe was formed, anno 1454; and their fates cannot but be interesting to Scotsmen. See GENDARMES.

Valour, honour, and fidelity, must have been very conspicuous features of the national character of the Scots, when so great and civilized a people as the French could be induced to choose a body of them, foreigners as they were, for guarding the persons of their sovereigns.—Of the particular occasion and reasons of this predilection we have a recital by Louis XII. a succeeding monarch. After setting forth the services which the Scots had performed for Charles VII. in expelling the English out of France, and reducing the kingdom to his obedience, he adds—"Since which Hist. of reduction, and for the service of the Scots upon that by Claud occasion, and for the great loyalty and virtue which he Seyril, found in them, he selected 200 of them for the guard ster of re- of his person, of whom he made an hundred men at quests to arms, and an hundred life-guards: And the hundred men at arms are the hundred lances of our ancient ordinances; and the life-guard men are those of our guard who still are near and about our person."—As to their fidelity in this honourable station, the historian, speaking of Scotland, says, "The French have so ancient a friendship and alliance with the Scots, that of 400 men appointed for the king's life-guard, there are an hundred of the said nation who are the nearest to his person, and in the night keep the keys of the apartment where he sleeps. There are, moreover, an hundred complete lances and two hundred yeomen of the said nation, besides several that are dispersed through the companies: And for so long a time as they have served in France, never hath there been one of them found that hath committed or done any fault against the kings or their estate; and they make use of them as of their own subjects."

The ancient rights and privileges of the Scottish life-guards were very honourable; especially of the twenty-four first. The author of the Ancient Alliance says, "On high holidays, at the ceremony of the royal touch, the erection of knights of the king's order, the reception of extraordinary ambassadors, and the public entries of cities, there must be six of their number next to the king's person, three on each side; and the body of the king must be carried by these only, wheresoever ceremony requires. They have the keeping of the keys of the king's lodging at night, the keeping of the choir of the chapel, the keeping the boats where the king passes the rivers; and they have the honour of bearing the white silk fringe in their arms, which in France is the coronne couleur. The keys of all the cities where the king makes his entry are given to their captain in waiting or out of waiting.—He has the privilege, in waiting or out of waiting, at ceremonies, such as coronations, marriages, and funerals of the kings, and at the baptism and marriage of their children, to take duty upon him. The coronation robe belongs to him; and this company, by the death or change of a captain, never changes its rank, as do the three others."

This company's first commander, who is recorded as a person of great valour and military accomplishments, was Robert Patillock, a native of Dundee; and Guard, Guardian.

and the band, ever ardent to distinguish itself, continued in great reputation till the year 1578. From that period, the Scots guards were less attended to, and their privileges came to be invaded. In the year 1612, they remonstrated to Louis XIII. on the subject of the injustice they had suffered, and set before him the services they had rendered to the crown of France. Attempts were made to re-establish them on their ancient foundation; but no negotiation for this purpose was effectual. The troops of France grew jealous of the honours paid them: the death of Francis II. and the return of Mary to Scotland, at a time when they had much to hope, were unfortunate circumstances to them: the change of religion in Scotland was an additional blow; and the accession of James VI. to the throne of England disunited altogether the interests of France and Scotland. The Scots guards of France had therefore, latterly, no connection with Scotland but the name.